Gearing Up for Summer

I love this time of year. The older girls have only 3 weeks left of school, and then . . . FREEDOM! Biking, hiking, running through the sprinkler, picnicking, beachcombing, berry picking . . . the possibilities of summer stretch endlessly before us. The potential for glorious sunshine and lots of time to accomplish outdoor projects leaves me giddy with excitement, even though I know the more likely scenario after last year's wonderful weather is a wet summer this year. Rain or shine, I never have enough time to tackle everything I want to get done in the garden and around the yard. Still, at this moment, I can dream, can't I? CAN'T I?!

One project that my husband and I are determined to see through is improving the front of the house. We moved into our home over 3 years ago, and the main entry has always driven us crazy. The front door is virtually impossible to get to; you either have to snake your way around the deck or hike up the hill. It doesn't help that the door is painted the same color as the house with a security light shining over it, leaving the impression that it's some kind of hidden door for employees. The result is that everyone currently enters our house through the garage. EVERYONE. My garage is the great equalizer. It doesn't matter if you're the UPS guy or my husband's boss, you're all going to enter our house through the stinkin' garage.

Behold the main door that no one uses.

The first thing we're going to do is extend the deck to the front edge of the house and add a few stairs.

Then we will install a proper front door with a crescent window over the top and a lovely porch light to the side.

Finally, we will build a broad curving pathway that leads to the parking area at the bottom of the hill, which people currently ignore because it is so removed from the house.


Of course, by "we" I mean "my husband."




Dinner last night: baked ziti

Exactly one year ago:

Spring Cleaning